The Blue Drum

Can't hear anything, have to turn the sound WAY up, and when you do, everything sounds muffled. Sounds like they used a potato for a microphone. Couldn't get through more than 5 minutes of this 11 minute short because I was annoyed that I couldn't hear/understand most of what was being said... Also, I am not elderly, so personal hearing is not the issue here.

The acting seemed decent in the first few minutes I saw, but the sound effects would sound far away for something that happened supposedly near where people were interacting/talking, resulting in mis-matched sound-levels in the film as well.

"The Blue Drum" (2022) is a short film that attempts to create a haunting and atmospheric experience, but ultimately falls short of its potential. While it boasts some intriguing visuals and sound design, the narrative feels underdeveloped and leaves the viewer with more questions than answers.

The film follows Leticia, a young woman grappling with the recent death of her father and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance. The atmosphere is effectively eerie, with the use of shadows and sound creating a sense of unease. The performance of Crystal Hernandez as Leticia is commendable, conveying her character's vulnerability and determination.

However, the film's narrative feels rushed and lacks clarity. The central mystery surrounding the blue drum and its connection to Leticia's family remains largely unexplained, leaving the viewer feeling unsatisfied. The ending, while attempting to be impactful, feels abrupt and lacks a sense of closure.

While "The Blue Drum" demonstrates potential with its atmospheric visuals and sound design, its underdeveloped narrative and unsatisfying conclusion prevent it from being a truly compelling short film. It feels like a missed opportunity to explore a more profound and engaging story.

I don't know if this made any difference to the sound quality that another reviewer here mentioned, but I watched this on Netflix and had no issues with the sound. I WAS watching with headphones on, though, so...

Anyway, it's an intriguing little short film, capably shot and written and acted and all that, my only 'gripe' being that I'd have liked even just another 5 minutes or so? Heck, even something about the length of a traditional Creepshow half-episode would be nice. You know, just to flesh it out a little bit more, give the cast a bit more room to work and the story a bit more room to breathe.

Honestly, though, it's good enough as it is.

... drum? Is that an actual saying or am I making this up? I kind of feel I have heard this before. But that is a thing with memories - if it's sayings or people we miss(ed). And that is the segway to this short movie - no pun intended as always of course.

Losing a loved one is never easy. I think I saw a teaser for this at a horror film festival last year. It could have been a different one that has a similar tone - grief but also trying to figure out a way to close a chapter of ones life ... to move forward! Which is only possible if you can say goodbye ... or find something out about yourself or a relative ... it is the latter in this one - drum(roll) please! No pun intended once again to close things off.

It has potential to be a quite entertaining horor drama but... hey... who cares about entertaining the audience, right?

Let's just have a nice enough idea, half bake it, get some back-ups and lazily produce it!

An additional 15-20 minutes of nicely put together story will make this still a short film which won't make none of scream, "that's it?!" I can get this way of storytelling for an almost drunk uncle on Xmas.

Well, thank you, maybe they thought we're smart enough to put 2 and 2 together but hey.... we smart people hate it when others waste our time even for a tiny 16 minutes.

"They're smart enough to make a production, I thought they're smart enough to tell a story well," say I who must rant more because... I gotta meet the character limit.